Trump orders reopening and expansion of notorious Alcatraz prison
President Donald Trump says he has ordered that Alcatraz, the notorious California island prison, be reopened.
The federal penitentiary closed in 1963. In a Truth Social post Sunday evening, the president called to “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!”
“For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering,” Trump wrote. “When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
“No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets,” he said, adding that he’s directing the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, “to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders.”
The president then made his latest attack on judges, some of whom had recently ruled against the Trump administration related to his massive deportation operation.
“We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally,” the president said. “The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who represents San Francisco, quickly rejected Trump’s plan.
“Alcatraz closed as a federal penitentiary more than sixty years ago. It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one,” she wrote on X.
Alcatraz mapped:
The directive comes after a district judge in Texas ruled that the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime law, to summarily deport Venezuelan immigrants accused of being gang members is “unlawful.”
The Trump administration has sent planes carrying immigrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador known as CECOT.
The country’s president, Nayib Bukele, told Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last month that he plans to expand CECOT, which has been attacked by human rights groups as a “tropical gulag” rife with abuses. The prison already holds 40,000 prisoners.
Trump last month told Bukele that the “homegrowns” are next, referring to American citizens. “You gotta build about five more places … It’s not big enough.”
Family pay tribute to ‘loving’ boy, 14, who died in Gateshead fire
The heartbroken family of a teenage boy who died in a fire at an industrial park have paid tribute to their “cheeky” and “loving” son.
Layton Carr, 14, died after the blaze broke out near Fairfield industrial park in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, on Friday evening.
Fourteen children – aged between 11 and 14 – have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, Northumbria Police said.
In a statement, Layton’s family said: “Layton was such a kind, caring and loving boy. From the minute he was born it was obvious the character he would turn out to be.
“Layton was your typical 14-year-old lad, a cheeky, happy lad. Despite his cheeky side Layton had an absolute heart of gold and would do anything for anyone.
“He was loved by all that met him, and it showed. He was a family boy that loved his mam and sisters more than anything in the world.”
Police were alerted to reports of the fire on Friday shortly after 8pm. The fire was extinguished a short time later but fears were raised for the missing teenager, who was believed to have been in the area at the time.
Earlier, the schoolboy was remembered as a “valued and much-loved” pupil by David Thompson, the head teacher of Hebburn Comprehensive School.
In a Facebook post, he spoke of the “tragic loss of one of our pupils,” and added: “Our school community is heartbroken.
“Layton was a valued and much-loved member of Year 9, and he will be greatly missed by everyone. We extend our sincere condolences to Layton’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. As a school, we will rally together to support one another through this tragedy.”
A police cordon was in place at the scene on Sunday and blue balloons in the shape of a number 14, along with floral tributes, were among the tributes placed by mourners.
One of the messages, pinned to a bunch of flowers, read: “Thank you for brightening up our lives. You will be missed beyond words.”
Another message said: “Rest in paradise, Layton. Always in our hearts. Fly high with the angels. Took too soon. Love you forever.”
Anyone who has information that could help the investigation has been urged to get in touch with Northumbria Police.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said: “My heartfelt condolences are with the family and friends of Layton Carr at this devastating time.
“I’m being kept updated regularly by the Chief Constable and her team and would like to thank all emergency services involved in the response and ongoing inquiries.
“I know this will have come as a shock to the Bill Quay community and I echo officer requests for anyone with information to please get in touch with Northumbria Police.”
Reform offers home working jobs despite vow to crack down on working from home
Reform UK is offering staff the chance to work from home despite vowing to scrap remote working when it takes over councils, it has emerged.
A job advert for Reform’s south central regional director promises “home working with occasional travel within the region”.
The £50,000-per-year role is being advertised online just days after Reform leader Nigel Farage promised that nobody working for a Reform-run council will be allowed to do so from home.
After taking control of 10 councils, Mr Farage said those with jobs relating to climate change or diversity or who work from home “all better really be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly”.
Asked what his party’s priority would be, Mr Farage told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We are deeply dissatisfied with the way that county councils and unitaries in Britain have been running their budgets.
“We look at the millions a year being spent, in many cases, on consultants. We look at the money being spent on climate change; on areas that county councils, frankly, shouldn’t even be getting involved in.”
He added: “No more work from home, increased productivity. That won’t be a magic wand, it won’t solve every problem, but it will be a good start and we’ll be judged on that.”
Sharing the Reform job advert, Labour’s Stella Creasy said the hypocrisy was “glorious”. “Apparently if you want to work for Reform, you can work from home,” she added. Several other Reform job adverts offered applicants home working.
She told The Independent: “Flexible working allows people to do the school run, it helps cut commuting costs and it means those with disabilities are more likely to find work.
“It means jobs are open to a wider pool of talent and its associated with better employee wellbeing and productivity – no wonder Reform offering it for their own staff. I just wish they’d stop trying to make life harder for everyone elses families.”
Reform said the regional organisers cannot easily attend the party’s single London office, but staff based in the capital work from the office five days a week.
The job posting came asThe Independent revealed Reform mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns’ vow to get rid of council diversity officers as one of her first acts in Lincolnshire has fallen flat as the county council doesn’t employ any.
Mr Farage and Dame Andrea put getting rid of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officers at the top of their agenda as they impose their own version of Elon Musk’s cost-cutting Doge on the county.
Ms Jenkyns said: “We are going to have a Lincolnshire Doge. We are going to ensure that we get rid of diversity officers because amazingly Lincolnshire County Council is now Reform controlled. That is a historic moment.”
However, The Independent unearthed a freedom of information answer from Lincolnshire County Council, where Reform now has a majority, stating: “Lincolnshire County Council does not employ any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officers.”
The council had been asked how many DEI officers it employed and what their salaries were. The answer was issued in March just before the local election campaign began in the county.
But in response, Ms Jenkyns told The Independent that another one of the three councils under her remit as the combined authority in the county, North Lincolnshire Council, does have diversity officers.
Rachel Riley hits out at Anne Robinson for Countdown criticism
Countdown star Rachel Riley has hit out at former host Anne Robinson after she criticised her on-set behaviour.
Former Weakest Link host Robinson, 80, presented the Channel 4 game show for just one year, from 2021 to 2022, joining regulars Riley and Susie Dent
During Robinson’s time on the show, there were several reports that she was feuding with Riley, who joined the series in 2009, replacing Carol Vorderman.
It was claimed that Riley, 39, considered “walking away” from the show due to rising tensions with Robinson, which allegedly created an “awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere” on set.
While the pair were initially complimentary of each other, Riley soon admitted she hadn’t “done much bonding” with Robinson, who replaced Nick Hewer.
Following this, Robinson called out Riley for “distracting” her by talking in the background while she was interviewing the show’s contestants.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Robinson denied having a feud with Riley, but said: “Rachel was a bit talkative when I was interviewing the contestants but once we shut her up it was fine.”
Riley has now addressed Robinson’s comments, saying at the Women’s Football Awards last week: “If Anne needs to mention me for publicity then good luck to her.”
The Sun reports Riley as saying: “I have the same opinion of her as most people do. I don’t pay any attention to what she says.”
Robinson became notorious for her scathing remarks directed at contestants when she presented BBC series The Weakest Link from 2000 to 2012.
Her signature presenting style was controversial, with some fans finding her jibes hilarious and others believing the “Queen of Mean” went too far with her comments.
In January, Robinson explained that she decided to take a more brutal approach after meeting “real quizzers” and learning they were “ruthlessly competitive” and ready to criticise one another.
Reflecting on her stint on the show in an interview with The Oldie last year, Robinson said that she would “never be able” to behave in the same way if she was presenting the show now.
“You’d never be able to say all that now,” she claimed. “Half of it would be stamped out. I always thought the contestants would feel short-changed if I were nice.”
Starmer ‘known around the world’ for cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners
Sir Keir Starmer is known around the world for taking winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners, a top economist has said.
The prime minister’s decision to means test the payment, which affected around 10 million pensioners, has had a “much bigger” reputational effect than expected, Paul Johnson added.
Mr Johnson, boss of the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), told Times Radio: “I was talking to the head of an international insurance company recently who said that the one thing everyone around the world knows about this government is that it’s taking money away from helping the cost of fuel for pensioners.
“So it’s one of those things which actually from a sort of fiscal point of view is pretty small but has turned out, I think, to be much bigger from a political and reputational point of view than the government expected.”
Polling firm More in Common has found that Sir Keir’s winter fuel cuts are Labour’s most damaging policy in government.
More of the public are aware of the change than any of Labour’s other policies, while around two thirds of voters dislike the policy.
More in Common director Luke Tryl has described it as Labour’s “original sin” and said it had a major impact on the party’s disastrous performance in last week’s local elections.
The measure, announced by Rachel Reeves weeks after Labour came to power in July, is expected to save the government around £1.5bn, but will push more than 100,000 pensioners into poverty.
IFS director Mr Johnson said it is a “perfectly sensible thing to do” as much of the payment previously went to wealthier people who could afford to pay for it.
But after the local elections, one of Labour’s re-elected mayors hit out at Sir Keir over the winter fuel cuts, while a group of left-wing MPs demanded a change of course from the PM.
Ros Jones, who was narrowly re-elected as mayor of Doncaster, beating the Reform candidate by just under 700 votes, told the BBC: “I wrote as soon as the winter fuel allowance was actually mooted, and I said it was wrong, and therefore I stepped in immediately and used our household support fund to ensure no-one in Doncaster went cold during the winter.”
Left-wing Labour MP Kim Johnson was among a group of backbenchers warning that Sir Keir’s current approach is leaving the door open to Reform UK and the far right.
“Voters want change – and if we don’t offer it with bold, hopeful policies that rebuild trust, the far right will,” she wrote on X.
Sir Keir defended the “tough decisions” he has taken in power, including winter fuel cuts, arguing that Labour “inherited a broken economy”.
He added: “Maybe other prime ministers would have walked past that, pretended it wasn’t there … I took the choice to make sure our economy was stable.”
The prime minister went on: “Yes, they were tough decisions, they were the right decisions. Because of those decisions we are now seeing waiting lists coming down, something people desperately want.
“Because of that, pensioners are now £470 up as of last month. These are really important changes we’ve brought about, but yes, they’re political choices.”
Why this Mediterranean region is perfect for a Summer escape
Summertime in Dalmatia: lazy days swimming in sparkling waters and feeling the salt dry on your skin, feasting on freshly grilled fish in a rustic beach bar while watching the sun set over the Adriatic, losing yourself in centuries of history surrounded by intense beauty – it’s the stuff of dreams. But oh so easy to turn into reality. Between Dalmatia’s stretch of the Croatian coast and the enchanting islands just a ferry ride away, you have everything you need for a relaxing and rejuvenating summer break. Choose between laid-back islands with quiet coves to lively beach resorts offering watersports and entertainment – all of which you can fit into the same trip. To get you inspired, here are some of the highlights of a Dalmatian holiday.
Croatia’s sunniest island is also the country’s most visited, which isn’t surprising when you first set eyes on Hvar Town. Step into St Stephen’s Square, the largest in Dalmatia, and take in the baroque beauty of its cathedral. Follow the path uphill to the 16th-century Spanish Fortress for fantastic views before checking out Hvar Town’s chic beach clubs. Away from the island capital, Stari Grad offers a slower pace of life, despite being on a major ferry route from Split. Once you’ve explored its colourful port, take a hike in neighbouring Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO-listed site, where you can still see the vineyards and olive groves planted by the ancient Greeks nearly 2,400 years ago.
Surrounded by mesmerising blue-green waters, the smooth white pebbles of V-shaped Zlatni Rat on Brač’s southern coast create Croatia’s most famous beach. Its unique geography draws windsurfing fans from around the world to the pretty nearby village of Bol as they zoom across these waters. Bol is also a handy base for hikes up to Vidova Gora, the highest point in Dalmatia and worth the visit for far-reaching views. Head to the northern coast for picturesque villages such as Pučišća, whose stonemasonry school is the oldest in Europe and continues a centuries-old tradition. When you explore the hinterland, you’ll be tempted to stop by rural restaurants that serve authentic Dalmatian cuisine featuring produce from their own farms and olive groves.
Off limits to tourists until 1989 while it served as an army base, the far-flung island of Vis has been slow to catch up on Croatia’s tourism boom – which suits everyone just fine. The long Venetian-style waterfront of Vis Town will look familiar to fans of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which was filmed here. The island’s other main village, Komiža, is a delightfully laid-back spot from where you can join boat trips to the jaw-dropping natural phenomenon that is the Blue Cave on the tiny neighbouring island of Biševo. There’s more awe in store when you make the rocky trek down to Stiniva Bay on the southern coast, where the pebbly beach is almost entirely encircled by towering cliffs.
Just across the sea from Split but curiously off most tourists’ radar, Šolta is one of Dalmatia’s lesser-known jewels. Sailors will have moored in its deeply sheltered coves such as Šešula Bay, as well as its attractive villages Maslinica and Stomorska, which bookend the island and give an enticing slice of Dalmatian life. In between you’ll see acres and acres of olive groves that produce award-winning liquid gold – a delicious companion for Šolta’s indigenous robust red wine. Explore Šolta’s heavily indented southern coast if you want true serenity while swimming in secluded pebbly coves backed by fragrant pine-covered hills.
For nearly 40 miles, the Makarska Riviera south of Split offers one alluring beach resort after another – Brela, Tučepi, Baška Voda, Podgora, Drvenik, Gradac and Makarska itself – all in the shadow of the impressive Biokovo Mountains. The sheer variety of beaches and resorts is extraordinary, including the beautiful Punta Rata Beach in Brela and peaceful Nugal Beach just south of Makarska. Follow the long seafront promenade to Baška Voda’s family-friendly beaches including the outstanding Nikolina Beach. And above it all are the hiking trails in Biokovo Nature Park, including the hair-raising Biokovo Skywalk, whose D-shaped glass floor hovers over the cliff and gives you an unforgettable thrill – rather like summer in Dalmatia itself.
For more travel inspiration, information and to plan your trip visit Central Dalmatia
US to send first Patriot missile systems to Kyiv since Trump-Zelensky Vatican talks
Ukraine is set to receive a fresh round of refurbished Patriot air defence systems from the US, Trump administration officials have said.
One system from Israel is being refurbished for Ukraine, and allies are discussing sending another from Germany or Greece, four current and former US officials told the New York Times.
The transfers would mean Ukraine has a total of 10 Patriot systems, mainly used to protect the capital Kyiv from Russian aerial assaults, in one of the biggest American-provided boosts the Ukrainian military since Mr Trump’s meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican during Pope Francis’s funeral, signalling a reset in their strained relationship.
The Times reported that Mr Trump’s personal view on the decision to send the Patriot systems remains unclear.
It comes as Mr Zelensky said he hopes to receive 3 million artillery shells from allies in 2025 and that a ceasefire is possible “even from today” if Vladimir Putin is serious about ending the war.
Mr Zelensky said Russia has for almost two months ignored a US proposal for a full ceasefire.
Elite U.S. mountaineer dies of cardiac arrest climbing 27,838 ft peak
American mountaineer Alexander Pancoe died, likely from cardiac arrest, while preparing to summit Mt Makalu in Nepal.
The renowned mountaineer from Illinois felt unwell late on Sunday night at Camp II after returning from Camp III, Iswari Paudel, managing director at Himalayan Guides, the expedition organiser, told The Independent.
Pancoe, 39, had completed an acclimatisation rotation to Camp III, a practice climb meant to help the body adapt to reduced oxygen levels before a summit attempt.
Pancoe aimed to raise $27,838 – the height of Mt Makalu in feet – for Lurie Children’s pediatric blood cancer programme in his hometown.
The climber had survived a brain tumour but was battling leukaemia at the time of his death.
On Mt Makalu, the fifth-highest peak in the world at 27,838 ft (8,485m) above the sea level, climbers pass through high-altitude camps to acclimatise to the conditions. Camp II is generally at 21,653-22,310 ft (6,600-6,800m) and Camp III at 23950-24278 ft (7,300-7,400m).
Mr Paudal told The Independent that “Alex died possibly of cardiac arrest”.
“The cause of the death can be confirmed after postmortem only, but we suspect that it was a cardiac arrest,” he said on the phone from Kathmandu.
Mr Paudel said Pancoe had reached Nepal early last month.
On Sunday, Pancoe’s team of four, his expedition leader, was about to rest for the night when he felt unwell. The teammates tried to revive him for over an hour, but he was unresponsive, Mr Paudel said.
Pancoe’s family and the US embassy in Kathmandu had been informed of his death, Mr Paudel said, and efforts are ongoing to retrieve his body from the camp.
The Independent has reached out to the US embassy in Kathmandu for comment.
The Himalayan peak of Mt Makalu is on the border between Nepal and China’s Tibet, about 14 miles southeast of Mt Everest.
Pancoe was a prominent figure in the mountaineering community.
He dedicated his adventure pursuits to supporting Lurie Children’s Hospital in Illinois where he had been operated upon after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2005. He aimed to raise funds for brain tumour research by completing the Explorers Grand Slam, a rare challenge involving climbs of the Seven Summits and cross-country skiing to the North and South Poles.
He had founded Peaks of Mind, a project that merged his passion for mountaineering with a commitment to mental health advocacy.
“It was a wild few years filled with adventure, a near-fatal climbing injury that required a Blackhawk helicopter rescue and lots of climbing! In 2019, upon summiting Everest and Denali, I became just the 15th American and one of 75 people in the world to complete the Grand Slam, raising almost $500,000 in the process for Lurie Children’s,” Pancoe wrote on the Peaks of Mind website.
“In 2023, while climbing Ama Dablam, a challenging climb in the Himalayan range, I became extremely hypoxic and struggled with the altitude. Several months later I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and learned that my body had been unable to make the red blood cells necessary to acclimate at altitude.”
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia, he explained, was a “lifelong cancer”. “After almost two years of receiving treatment to manage it, I am going to be attempting to climb Makalu, the 5th highest mountain in the world and raise $27,838 for Lurie Children’s pediatric blood cancer programme.”
Pancoe noted that “climbing at altitude is plenty hard without a chronic ailment” but said he looked forward to “rising to the challenge”.